5 Free Agent Signings Making Most Impact on 2024 NFL Season (2024)

NFL teams look different every year thanks to free agency and the draft, and there are a few free agent signings who are having a huge impact on their respective teams in 2024.

There were 10 teams that spentmore than $100 millionthis offseason on free agents, extensions, and franchise tags. Some of those teams have yet to find their footing, while others have found breakout stars to upgrade their respective positions.

Let's take a look at the most impactful free agents through the first five weeks of the 2024 season.

Contract information provided by Spotrac.

Honorable Mention: Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles

Contract:Three years, $37.75 million ($26 million guaranteed)

There are so many noteworthy free agents having an impact this season, but it would be disrespectful not to mention the impact that Saquon Barkley is having in Philadelphia.

Even after a Week 5 bye, Barkley is third in the NFL with 435 rushing yards, averaging 6.0 yards per carry with five total touchdowns. His presence has taken a lot of pressure off of Jalen Hurts and the passing game, particularly as they deal with the absences of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

Barkley is also third in the NFL with 156 rushing yards over expected, according to Next Gen Stats. His elusiveness and power make him a dangerous running back in space, but he also possesses legitimate breakaway speed.

Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (0) during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium. Troy Taormina-Imagn Images.

5. Azeez Al-Shaair, Houston Texans

Contract:Three years, $34 million ($21.5 million guaranteed)

DeMeco Ryans knows what he wants from defense players, and LB Azeez Al-Shaair checks many of those boxes.

The two worked together during their time with the San Francisco 49ers, and Ryans got to reunite with the talented linebacker this offseason. The 27-year-old has brought an aggressive mentality to Houston's defense, adding another competitive and relentless defender to a young and ascending group.

Al-Shaair's box score numbers are unassuming, with 37 total tackles (26 solo), three pass breakups, and one sack. However, he's been an efficient blitzer with 11 pressures on 28 pass-rush snaps and has a missed tackle rate of just 7.7 percent.

The team numbers are also a testament to Al-Shaair and the team's other defensive additions. They're the third-ranked defense by DVOA after ranking just 16th in 2023.

Off-ball linebackers aren't typically valued, but the Texans found a reliable contributor and team leader on a fair deal.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) throws a pass against the New Orleans Saints in the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Brett Davis-Imagn Images.

4. Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons

Contract:Four years, $180 million ($100 million guaranteed)

There was a brief moment of panic for Atlanta Falcons fans after an ugly debut from Kirk Cousins. However, the 36-year-old quarterback looks more and more like a quarterback capable of leading the Falcons to the playoffs.

Cousins looked like a top-tier quarterback in his most recent outing. In a comeback victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football, Cousins set a franchise record with 509 passing yards, completing 42-of-58 passes with four touchdowns and one interception.

Cousins' passing chart showed that he wasn't afraid to throw it all over the field.

Credit: Next Gen Stats

Unlike previous seasons, Cousins is showing much more willingness to air it out and take risks. He has his highest turnover-worthy play rate since 2014, but he also has the fourth-highest aggressiveness rate on his passes into tight windows in the league, according to Next Gen Stats.

Throws like this touchdown are ones Cousins wouldn't be eager to make during his time in Minnesota.

The Green Bay Packers defense celebrates after safety Xavier McKinney (29) intercepted a Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford pass in the third quarter at SoFi Stadium. Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images.

3. Xavier McKinney, Green Bay Packers

Contract:Four years, $67 million ($23 million guaranteed)

There might not be another player in the NFL having a start to the 2024 season quite like Xavier McKinney.

McKinney has come away with an interception in all five games this year. Along with a fumble recovery against the Los Angeles Rams, his six takeaways are more than 18 NFL teams have through five weeks this season.

It's not just the takeawaysbut McKinney's dominance in coverage that's impressive. According toPro Football Focus, opposing quarterbacks have a passer rating of just 1.2 when targeting him and have completed 2-of-7 passes for 23 yards and five interceptions.

That's the lowest passer rating allowed by any safety in the NFL this season.

Some of McKinney's interceptions could be viewed as "lucky," but the film shows a safety doing a great job of feeling out route concepts, reading the quarterback's eyes, and taking good angles to make a play on the ball.

The Green Bay Packers desperately needed upgrades in the safety room this offseason. Not only did they draft a pair of promising rookies in Javon Bullard and Evan Williams, but they also hit a home run with their biggest free-agent signing, McKinney.

Even if the interception streak doesn't continue, McKinney is already drawing legitimate first-team All-Pro consideration through the first five games.

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs through Buffalo Bills linebacker Dorian Williams (42) tackle attempt during the first half at M&T Bank Stadium. Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images.

2. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens

Contract:Two years, $16 million ($9 million guaranteed)

No player on this list more perfectly fits the identity of their new team than Derrick Henry.

The veteran running back signed a cheaper deal with the Baltimore Ravens, and the rest of the league assumed that he couldn't replicate his production at 30 years old and with more than 2,000 career carries.

Instead, Henry is doing things the league has never seen before from a veteran running back with his kind of mileage. He's leading the NFL with 572 rushing yards, is tied for first with six rushing touchdowns, and is averaging a career-high 6.0 yards per carry.

Henry also leads the league with 229 rushing yards over expected. Even when things aren't going according to plan, Henry's size and speed allow him to break off explosive plays.

Henry's presence also opens things up for Lamar Jackson and the passing game. Jackson has been deadly on play-action, with four touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a 119.2 passer rating.

After an 0-2 start, the Ravens are right back in the thick of the AFC playoff race, and Henry's dominance on the ground is a big reason for that success.

Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) sacks Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) in the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

1. Jonathan Greenard, Minnesota Vikings

Contract:Four years, $76 million ($38 million guaranteed)

Jonathan Greenard isn't the first name that comes to mind for critical free agents this year. However, his impact on the Minnesota Vikings defense is a huge reason why they're one of two remaining undefeated teams.

Greenard has four sacks and 12 tackles this season. Those aren't jaw-dropping numbers, but it's his consistent ability to generate pressure that has made him such a massive boon to Minnesota's defense.

Greenard's 29 pressures are the second-most in the league behind Aidan Hutchinson. He's had at least five pressures in every game this season, including seven pressures and three quarterback hits on Aaron Rodgers in Sunday's game against the New York Jets in London.

No other player on Minnesota's defense has more than 14 pressures this season. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores runs a scheme that relies on hiding coverages with pre-snap looks while generating pressure fast enough to prevent quarterbacks from diagnosing coverages after the snap.

That hasn't been an issue for Greenard.

Without Greenard, it's unlikely that the Vikings have the No. 1 defense by DVOA. His explosiveness off of the snap, play strength, and ability to mix up his pass-rush plan has made him one of the NFL's most disruptive pass rushers.

For as fun as this year's free agent class is, no one is matching Greenard's impact on the Vikings' defense.